Validation of the Identification of Some Foodborne Enteric Bacteria by Fatty Acid Profiles and Real-Time PCR

Abstract

Foodborne pathogens are responsible for a great number of diseases with significant effects on human health. Real time PCR (RT-PCR) assay can be used to identify pathogens using species-specific primers. Fatty acid profiles can be used as a rapid method for identification of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, using gas chromatography-coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We compared between RT-PCR and cellular fatty acid (CFA) profiles, for identification of four foodborne pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella enterica). Unique primers designed by us were used for identifying the four pathogenic bacterial species using RT-PCR. Moreover, the traditional method for analysis (CFA) of bacteria was modified by addition a concentration step at the end of the process. Results revealed that RT-PCR was superior to CFA profiles, and the accuracy of RT-PCR method was 100%; while it was between 81% for E. cloacae and P. mirabilis, and 100% for S. enterica in CFA profiles.